When reflecting on his decade-long baseball career, senior Emmett Heath has one moment that shines through — and it isn’t his recent commitment to Pitzer College. It’s winning the Little League Championship with his childhood team, the Royals.

“We were just a powerhouse of a team,” Emmett said. “It was probably the best moment ever.”

Emmett decided then, on the pitching mound while hitting for the Royals, that he wanted to play in college.

“I knew that I wanted to play baseball, and I knew that I would do whatever it takes to make it happen,” Emmett said.

Though he outgrew his blue spectacles, the baseball bug stuck. Emmett suspects it has something to do with genes inherited from his father, who shares a love of the sport. 

“When I play baseball, I can’t describe the feeling,” Emmett said. “I just feel super alive.”

“He’s just a baseball guy — baseball’s his thing,” teammate senior Jagger Heath said. 

Emmett’s determination — and versatility as a left-handed pitcher and hitter — launched his career. The summer after eighth grade, he passed the regional tryouts for Team USA and traveled to North Carolina to play against some of the best athletes in the nation. Lori and Shea, Emmett’s parents, share this as their favorite memory from all the years they have watched him play.  

After a successful season, Emmett began receiving attention from college scouts his freshman year. Among the many that would reach out, Pitzer was the first. However, Emmett originally dismissed their interest as he had his sights on a school above Division III. After such a successful season, anyone would.

“When he is focused on something, he goes right after it,” varsity Head Coach Gabriel Stewart said. 

Unfortunately, during his sophomore year preseason, Emmett pushed his body past its limits, blowing out his knees, back, and elbow. Suddenly, Emmett’s Division I dreams were dashed. Struggling with a mental block and continuously reinjuring his elbow, it would take almost two years for him to return to playing as normal. 

“There was a very big part of me that was like, ‘Why am I still doing this if it’s not going to reward me?’” Emmett said. “But, there was always a voice in my head that said I need to keep pushing. I didn’t have another option.”

While devastating, this injury gave Emmett time to come to some realizations about himself and his aspirations.

“I was very cocky my freshman year,” Emmett admitted. “It was a very humbling experience, and I’m actually glad it happened because it made me into someone who I liked more than I was before.”

For five hours, five days a week, Emmett makes the hour drive to Kinetic Performance Institute — a baseball development facility — to hone his skills. Recently, on one of his visits he pitched at full speed for the first time since his injury, hitting 87 miles per hour. 

“He bounced back because of his perseverance,” senior Lola Bacchi said. “He’s a fighter, and he’s fought for this.”

Emmett began looking at colleges again his senior year. During a prospect camp, he reconnected with Pitzer coaches, and the possibility of attending a school with rigorous academics and one of the highest-ranking DIII programs hooked him. After a long period of uncertainty, Emmett committed to the program that had always believed in him.

“I know he was really focused on going to Pitzer,” Stewart said. “The fact that he achieved his goal is just absolutely fantastic.”

“Everything is lined up for me,” Emmett said. “Of all the struggle and hard work I put in, everything just worked out.”

Now, Emmett moves his attention to his senior season, where his team knows him for his competitive nature and lively spirit.  

“He is the piece that all at the same time keeps us loose and having fun,” Stewart said. 

“He was playing foosball and hit his funny bone really hard and passed out,” Jagger said. “Then he pitched the next day.”

Ultimately, Emmett is excited to take his talents to the next level, but understands that the standards will be raised.  

“I definitely have nerves, but being nervous doesn’t get you anywhere,” Emmett said. “So I might as well come in with full confidence, you know?”